NORWALK — The city of Norwalk will now require people selling door-to-door to obtain a solicitor permit badge.

The permit is stamped with the seal of the city, has a non-removable full face photo of the solicitor, their full name and company address, and year that the license is valid.

The license, which is obtained in the City Clerk’s Office, is required for anyone who is soliciting orders of purchase for any goods, wares or merchandise, including magazines. The badge must be permanently displayed at all times.

According to Norwalk City Code 77-16, a solicitor is defined as “any person (over age 16) who goes from place to place; house to house ... or who stands in any street, sidewalk or public place taking or offering to take orders for goods, wares, or merchandise for future delivery or for services to be performed in the future.”

The city clerk may refuse to issue a license or can revoke a license if the applicant has given false or misleading information; if the applicant has been convicted of any misdemeanor involving fraud within the past five years; or if the applicant has been convicted of a felony involving fraud unless five years has passed since the expiration of the applicant’s felony sentence or parole.

Exemptions to the licensing requirements are: sales by farmers and gardeners of the produce from their farms and gardens; sale, distribution and delivery of food and beverages; sale of newspapers; sales made to retail or wholesale stores or to professional or industrial establishments; sale of insurance; or sales by an individual or organization which is an authorized participant in a special permit event approved by the city and for which a special event permit has been issued.

No solicitor shall engage in the soliciting of orders except between the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“If a solicitor is aggressive, refuses to leave your property when told to do so or appears to be acting suspiciously, do not hesitate to call Norwalk police immediately,” the department said in a statement.